GB2470448A

GB2470448A - A method of providing a building structure containing computer equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2470448A
Application number: GB0922441A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Reddicliffe
Original assignee: Cannon Technologies Ltd
Current assignee: Cannon Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2009-05-22
Filing date: 2009-12-22
Publication date: 2010-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-22
Also published as: GB0908940D0; GB2470448B; GB0922441D0; GB2470448A8

Abstract

A method of providing a removable building structure containing computer equipment includes the provision of an array of cabinets and a roof supported by the array of cabinets. The cabinets are thus modular constructional elements of the building structure. Outer walls are provided to define the building structure and computing equipment is placed in the cabinets. A raised floor may be provided supported by the cabinets. Additional framing may be provided in combination with the cabinets.

Description

I

INTEGRATED CABINET AND BUILDING STRUCTURE

This invention relates generally to an integrated cabinet and building structure. The structure according to the present invention can be used, for example, in prefabricated buildings provided for storing computing and related (IT) equipment.

Modern IT rooms used for accommodating of computing equipment usually follow a standard layout which comprises rows or bays of racks or cabinets separated by parallel aisles. An essential requirement for many IT rooms is to provide voids underneath or above the cabinets to allow air to flow and cool the IT equipment. Such voids are particularly needed when air conditioners are used, as well as for servicing, pipe work, cabling and accessories.

Prefabricated buildings are currently provided for applications such as IT rooms. Such prefabricated buildings use various types of roof beam or trusses to span the width of the room. If the rooms are required to be very wide, then the cost per square meter of the building increases because, as the trusses grow longer to match the span, they also increase in size and cost at a substantial rate. Similarly, the support columns or structural walls of the building also increase in mass and cost.

It is common practice for such prefabricated buildings to be placed within the shell of existing permanent buildings. The increased length and thickness of such trusses and walls, however, can constrain the freedom to place the prefabricated buildings inside the permanent buildings, because such trusses and walls sometimes interfere with existing roof trusses in the umbrella building.

Increasing weight can also overstress some types of ground or floors on which these prefabricated buildings are placed.

Furthermore, such heavy building elements often need to be handled with a heavy mechanical plant and cranes which can obstruct the access to the building site. Also, the rental cost of handling such mechanical plant is high and sophisticated logistics are required.

Accordingly, there is a need for a low cost, simplified structural design for prefabricated buildings which still has sufficient structural strength. Furthermore, there is a need for a design which achieves a functional structure with reduced components for varying floor areas. Finally, the design should comply with the air flow requirements of IT rooms.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of providing a removable building structure containing computing equipment, the method comprising the steps of: providing an array of cabinets; providing a roof supported by using the array of cabinets as a modular constructional element of the building structure to provide support; providing external walls and placing the computing equipment in the cabinets.

According to the present invention therefore the four vertical posts which form the corners of an electrical rack or cabinet are utilised to provide a supportive column for the roof of the building. As will be appreciated, the present invention provides several advantages over the prior art. For example, the building is very light, using relatively small cross section components which individually are only lightly loaded, due to their frequency of pitch, and therefore achieving a high safety factor for loading. Accordingly, this type of building requires virtually no mechanical plant during construction as it can be built with simple hand tools and can be placed in sites with difficult access.

The method of the present invention may also provide for additional support members to be provided to provide spacing for walk ways and/or ventilation or for controlling spacing. Additional horizontal members may also be provided between adjacent cabinets to provide support for raised flooring and/or ventilation ducts. A panel may be provided above each cabinet to provide the roof component, with joins between adjacent panels on adjacent cabinet being sealed appropriately. Panels may be provided on selected cabinets to define segregated compartments within the building to improve thermal installation values, fire resistance or acoustic attenuation. The present invention also provides a building in accordance with the above method.

Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of an integrated cabinet and building structure according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of an integrated cabinet and building structure provided with posts which extend below and above.the cabinet; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a cabinet and building structure obtained by stacking pre-assembled individual sub-frames according to the present invention; Figure 4A is a schematic side view of an integrated cabinet and building structure; Figure 4B is a schematic elevated view of an integrated cabinet and building structure; Figure 5A is a schematic side view of an integrated cabinet and building structure supporting a flat roof; Figure 5B is a schematic side view of an integrated cabinet and building structure supporting a sloping roof; Figure 6 shows a schematic view of internal cabinet doors open in an integrated cabinet and building structure.

Figure 1 shows an example of an integrated cabinet frame and building structure 10 provided with four support corner posts 1 and horizontal rails 2 connecting the ends of each two adjacent posts I such that the structure is a parallelepiped. The cabinet 10 contains IT equipment (not shown), which may be used in an installation having a large number of such cabinet frames 10. In this example, the length of the post is equal to a building roof height such that the structure 10 is supporting the roof (not shown). The corner posts 1 of the cabinet can therefore support a roof whilst not posing an obstacle to the aisles, as the posts I do not protrude into the aisles. The corner posts 1 and rails 2 can be mass produced, as they are common to rack and building requirements.

In the example shown in Figure 2, if the corner posts 1 are extended vertically upwards and/or downwards so that they project above the top and/or below the base of the cabinet frame I 0, additional space is generated above and below the cabinet frame 10. The tops of the extended corner posts of the resulting cabinet structure A can conveniently support the roof structure (not shown). Optionally, the building roof can also be set at a height which is independent of cabinet height.

The additional generated space above or below the cabinets created by the extended corner posts suits the need of IT rooms by providing voids for air flow for cooling when air conditioners are used and for services, pipe work, cabling and accessories.

Figure 3 shows another example of the present invention wherein cabinet frames can be constructed from a series of stacked sub-frames 20, 10, 30 to achieve a cabinet structure B which is equivalent to the resulting structure (A) shown in Figure 2. Most conveniently, the vertical posts of a cabinet structure B can be divided into two or three sections which achieve the desired height when stacked. These sub-sections can be assembled with horizontal stringers or picture frames to achieve complete sub-frames 20, 10, 30 for ease of handling.

By stacking these sub-frames 20, 10, 30 on top of each other, the desired total height for the room can be provided. Any convenient number of such stacked sub-frames can be utilised.

As shown in Figure 3, it is convenient to set the joining faces of these sub-frames 20, 10, 30 at significant levels such as internal floor level and top surface of the cabinets. Sub-frames can be located by pegs and bolted together.

By adopting this protocol, it is easy to define the height of the floor void and the height of the overhead void, or any other significant height. Advantages gained by this sub-frame structure include reduced handling of weights for the assembly process and easier accommodation of main assemblies during transportation.

Figure 4A is a schematic side view, while Figure 4B is a schematic elevated view of an example of the integrated cabinet and building structure.

Horizontal support members or stringers, between corner posts can support the roof (not shown) over cabinets or over aisles. Aisle frames emulate rack frames, by virtue of comprising corner posts and stringers. Raised floor voids can similarly be provided by horizontal members across aisles and joined to corner posts, at walkway height. These support flooring panels of various materials.

The raised floor level can be fitted with panels or tiles which exactly fit the frame plan of that module. The resulting floor tile can serve to provide a closed element controlling the flow of under floor air conditioned cooling air. The floor tile can be alternatively manufactured to form a grill which will allow the cooling air to flow upwards into the cold aisle of the room for entry into the racks, to cool the IT equipment, also downward from the hot aisle into the under floor cooling chillers.

In addition because such floor tiles are relatively large compared to traditional raised floor tiles, it is possible to pass large pieces of equipment through the void covered by the floor tile. With this advantage air conditioners and chilled water to air heat exchangers can be conveniently housed under the floor or under the rack to supply localised cooling to the IT equipment. The cooling equipment is easily removed for maintenance because of the frame I tile size. This is not possible with the traditional raised access floor matrix because the standard 600 x 600 floor pedestal pitch obstructs the installation of large chillers and the large head of the pedestals is particularly obstructive.

If required, a perimeter aisle around the room can use two posts for the outside wall, joined to the adjacent bay of racks by similar horizontal members.

Alternatively, a full four post aisle frame can be used. Adjacent frames can be fastened together to achieve an integrated structure. The resultant building is therefore extremely rigid due to the lattice cage nature of the design.

Several horizontal rails can be fitted above each other, in any one vertical plane to achieve multi-compartmental voids for segregation of services; walkways etc, either below the floor or above cabinets. If the horizontal rails are produced as picture frame assemblies, they naturally define cabinet width and depth as well as aisle width, speeding erection.

The top of the cabinet frames and aisle frames can be fitted with a horizontal top panel which, when all frames are in place, automatically creates a roof skin with some treatment to seal the roof panels butt joints. Established techniques for sealing the butt joints can be used, such as cover strips, gaskets, or mastic.

As shown in Figure 5A, a flat roof can be obtained by using the structure according to the present invention. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 5B, a pitch slope of the roof can be accomplished by varying the sub-frame height of the top level frames, thus allowing cab frames and base floor frames to be of constant height. The mass and strength of these sub-frames can be adjusted to suit the load carrying requirements of each sub-frame position. A single-pitch or multi-pitch roof can also be achieved by incremental shortening of post heights and slightly angling the horizontal panels or picture frame to carry the sloping roof panels. Stepped height buildings can be achieved by using differing post heights at the required positions.

Any panel system fixed to the posts can be single skin, double skin and insulated, as can the roof panels, to increase thermal insulation values, fire resistance and acoustic attenuation. If very thick insulation / fire resistant panels are required to achieve extended fire resistance, this can be complimented by adding to the vertical posts similar insulation, so as to maximise the integrity of the building.

The modular cabinet frames and aisle frames can be butted together to build a large selection of floor plans i.e. long and narrow, wide, joggled cross shaped, much like laying out dominoes. This versatility allows complex sites to be substantially covered with relative ease. The floor plan can flow around obstacles such as existing columns or similar structures.

The cabinet frames can accept additional vertical panels to partition off sections of the room or building. As shown in Figure 6, panels can be replaced by modular doors.

The IT equipment housed in bays or rows of racks sometimes requires the provision of a void between the IT racks to accommodate variable sized plant or machinery or special electronic equipment. The proposed modular construction allows important customised pockets to be designed into a building and achieved by using stub frames as overhead spacers and similar frames for the lower modules, under the raised floor. The resulting pocket can accept the retrofit of custom equipment, between the corner posts of the IT racks, without extending the cumulative length of the building which would happen if full height pocket frames were used. Stub frames also very importantly allow doors to be fitted to the racks, where the door overlaps the corner post of the rack obstructing the fit of adjacent frames if they were of full height rather than stub frames. This advantage allows wider vented doors to be fitted to racks with greater vented area due to enhanced width. This can be a critical advantage when cooling is in high demand.

Furthermore, it is required in all IT Data Centres to mount items on the internal skins of walls and ceilings, such items as lights, cables trays, fire suppression, systems chillers, heaters, switches, telecom units etc. In other building designs according to the present invention the internal skins of roof and walls are penetrated with various fasteners and brackets to fix such equipment.

Such penetrations allow for a greater opportunity for fire transmission as well as air leakage and corrosion. The rack post section forming the main building component in this invention is of approximately a rectangular C' section with ears. This design allows cross members to be fitted and attached to the internal of the C' section and fastened to the ears. Equipment can be easily fixed to these cross members. By adapting this concept the internal skin is not penetrated and fire resistance is maintained at design level. Also, this is a major advantage in speed of installation and in the equipment weight capacity achievable with this system.

According to the present invention, the building can easily be extended, have the floor plan modified, or be disassembled and relocated. Furthermore, due to the relatively close pitch of a frame posts, extremely high roof loads can be carried. The building itself is however light, imposing low loads on any supporting substrate, thus enabling more freedom to choose locations for the building.

Another advantage not previously mentioned is that the relatively small size of each panel and post enables individual, low cost customisation.

Furthermore, because complex trusses are not required for wide spans, there is no limit to width or length of the building. Typical foot prints of racks and aisles are between 300 to 1400 mm. Most commonly however, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1400 mm. Non-standard foot prints can easily be created at low cost by modifying stringer length.

There may be instances when the user requires permanent removal of posts to create a more open area in specific portions of the room. By using the present structure, this can be easily accomplished by slightly deepening the relevant horizontal members to support the resultant span for roof, floor or voids.

Adjacent sub-frames according to the present invention can share posts or each frame can have its own dedicated posts. Accordingly, the present invention provides a low cost, versatile and speedy construction, allowing virtually unlimited floor plans to be achieved very economically.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of providing a removable building structure containing computing equipment, the method comprising the steps of: providing an array of cabinets; providing a roof supported by using the array of cabinets as a modular constructional element of the building structure to provide support providing outer walls for the building; and placing the computing equipment in the cabinets.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein frames are provided in combination with at least some of the cabinets.
3. A method according to claim I or 2, wherein support members are provided between adjacent cabinets and/or frames.
4. A method according to claims 2 or claim 3, wherein horizontal members are provided between adjacent cabinets andlor frames at a position below their upper level in order to provide support for raised flooring.
5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one frame is a stub frame arranged to accommddate variable sized equipment between the cabinets and/or frames.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one stub frame is aperture or adjacent frame provided with a door.
7. A method according to claim 4 to 6, wherein the raised flooring is comprised of an array of tiles arranged between adjacent cabinets and/or frames.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein at least one tile is a grill.
9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the roof is provided by forming a top panel on each cabinet, with sealing provided between adjacent panels to define a watertight roof.
10. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein panels are attached to selected cabinets to define the outer walls and/or segregated compartments to improve thermal insulation values, fire resistance or acoustic attenuation.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein at least one panel defining an outer wall has and internal skin provided with means for mounting equipment.
12. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the roof has an internal skin provided with means for mounting equipment.
13. A building formed in accordance with the method of any preceding claims.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. A method of providing a removable building structure containing computing equipment, the method comprising the steps of: providing an array of cabinets; providing frames in combination with at least some of the cabinets; providing horizontal members between adjacent cabinets and/or frames at a position below their upper level in order to provide support for raised flooring, wherein the raised flooring is comprised of an array of tiles arranged between adjacent cabinets and/or frames; providing a roof supported by using the array of cabinets as a modular constructional element of the building structure to provide support; providing outer walls for the building; and placing the computing equipment in the cabinets; *.s. 15 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein support members are provided * between adjacent cabinets and/or frames. **.*I S...3. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one frame is a stub frame arranged to accommodate variable sized equipment between the cabinets and/or frames. S. * * II * ..4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the at least one stub frame is an aperture or an adjacent frame provided with a door.5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one tile is a grill.6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the roof is provided by forming a top panel on each cabinet, with sealing provided between adjacent panels to define a watertight roof.7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein panels are attached to selected cabinets to define segregated compartments in order to improve thermal insulation values, fire resistance or acoustic attenuation.8. A method according to claim 7, wherein at least one panel defining an outer wall has an internal skin provided with means for mounting equipment.9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the roof has an internal skin provided with means for mounting equipment.10. A building formed in accordance with the method of any preceding claim. * * *S*. ** S* I.* * *. *S * *! I. * * S S * S.